Separator



Dec. 20, 1938.

F. c. DUGAN 2,140,953

sEPARATo Filed May 8, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l Y man o JiZZzyazM A itorngyg F. c. DUGAN 2,140,953

SEPARATOR Filed May 8, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' Dec. 20, 1938.

F. c. DU GAN SEPARATOR Fil ed May a, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Dec. 20, 1938.

F. c. DUGAN 2,140,953

SEPARATOR Filed May 8, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Q Inventor Attorneys Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in liquid and gas separators and more particularly to an apparatus for separating gasolene and other liquids from natural gas.

5 The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive machine through which natural gas can be passed and treated in such a manner as to remove to an efficient and practical extent gasolene and other 10 liquid constituents of the gas.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a machine for separating gasolene and other liquids from natural gas which because of its simple construction is not susceptible 15 to the development of frequent defects.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:-

20 Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the machine with a portion of the stator broken away. I

Figure 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the machine.

25 Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of 30 a portion of the coupling of the rotor.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic View disclosing the manner in which the gas passes between the 35 blades of the rotor.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 generally refers to the stator, while numeral 6 generally refers to the 40 rotor. The stator consists of the cylindrical shell I and the end walls 8-8 secured thereto by a bolt or rivet 9.

Numeral I denotes the drive shaft for the rotor 6. A shell construction I projects axially 4 from each of the end walls 8, encompassing the adjacent portions of the shaft l0. Each of these shell constructions end in a packing gland I2 through which the shaft I0 extends.

Numeral I3 is the natural gas conduit communicating with one of the shells while numeral I4 is the take-01f conduit for the gas. Furthermore, numeral I represents the outlet from the stator 5 of gasolene or other liquids 55 removed from the natural gas.

The rotor 6 consists of a cylindrical shell I6 having a multiplicity of openings I1 therein. The shell I6 is provided with the end walls |8--| 8 suitably bolted or riveted thereto.

Blade assemblies l9 and funnel assemblies 20 5. are mounted within the rotor 6. The blade assemblies l9 serve to draw the gas and other substances through the machine, while the funnel assemblies 20 catch the liquids andother heavier substances and by centrifugal force throw them 10 outwardly, through the openings of the shell I6, where they run down the inside of the cylindrical wall "I of the stator and finally drain through the outlet l5, while the remaining gas passes out through the conduit I4.

The blade assemblies l9 are on hubs 2|, while the funnel assemblies are on axial disks 22. Split collars 23 suitably bolted together as at 24 are provided on the drive shaft, one at each end of the rotor 6 and set screws 25 serve to 20 retain these collars in definite position on the shaft. These split collars 23 are provided with openings 26 therein through which the end of the tie rods 21 extend. These tie rods extend through all of the hubs 2| and axial disks 22, 25 so that all of these members are interlocked together and definitely fixed on the shaft III.

The periphery of each of these assemblies |9-2|l is provided with an annulus 28-29 respectively. 30

As clearly shown in Figure 3, rods 30 extend from the hubs 2| to attach at their outer ends to the annular members 28 and suitably secured to each of these rods 30 are the blades 3| disposed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotor and these blades gradually reduce the side toward the axis of the rotor as is clearly shown in Figure 3.

The funnel assembly 20 consists of plate members 32 radiating from the axial disk 22. These plates 32 gradually increase in width to the point where they attach to the annulus 29 and are secured to the shell I6. One longitudinal edge of each of these plates 32 is rolled to form an open tube 33 having its edge 34 in spaced relation to the plate proper 32. The heavy particles of the natural gas are caught in. these tubes under force exerted by the blades 3| and by centrifugal force are thrown outwardly through the openings in the shell I6 to finally drain through the outlet I5 in the stator 5.

It will be observed that the shell I6 is provided with perforations I1 and that the assemblies of blades 3| and tubes 33 are alternately positioned longitudinally. The blades 3| serve to rotate the gas at the desired speed and to force the gas against the tube assemblies. As suggested in Figure 4, these tubes while opened longitudinally are also curved longitudinally and act as accumulators in receiving the heavy particles or liquids from the gas and to deliver this heavy part of the gas to the periphery of the rotor and through the perforated shell IE to the space between the shell I6 and the casing 1 from which space this heavy portionv of the gas can be taken ofi by way of the outlet IS. The blades 3| assist the tubes forcing more of the gas into the tubes than would ordinarily be taken in by the tubing efiect of the tubes, with the result that the actual centrifugal deliverance of the heavy portion of the gas is forced by the action of the blades 3|.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be under.- stood that numerous changes inthe shape, size, and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

A separator of the character described comprising a stator, a rotor mounted in the stator, an inlet at one end of the stator, an outlet at the opposite end of the stator, said rotor being hollow and provided with blades radially disposed from the axle and on oblique planes with respect thereto, said rotor being provided with a plurality of radially disposed tubular structures open longitudinally for catching heavy particles of gas forced toward the same by the fans and discharging the same centrifugally from their outer ends toward the stator, the periphery of the rotor being in spaced relation to the stator, said rotor including a surrounding shell perforated to permit the escape of gas into the space between the rotor and the stator.

FRANK CLAY DUGAN. 

